Many of us love to garden, filling our yards with beautiful flowers and lush greenery. But did you know some common plants can be deadly if eaten or touched? It’s not just wild mushrooms you need to watch out for.
From pretty flowers to common shrubs, there are more dangerous plants around us than you might think. Here are 17 plants that could be growing in your garden right now that pack a poisonous punch.
Oleander
This good-looking bush with pink or white blooms is really dangerous. You can get very sick from eating any part of it. Even if you burn it and breathe in the smoke, it’s bad for you. Eat too much, and it could mess up your heart, upset your stomach, or even kill you.
Castor Bean
The seeds of this plant are used to make castor oil. But they also contain ricin, one of the most poisonous natural substances known. Eating just a few seeds can kill an adult. The plant has big, star-shaped leaves and spiky seed pods.
Water Hemlock
This plant grows near water and looks a bit like Queen Anne’s Lace. It’s considered North America’s most toxic plant. Eating any part of it can cause seizures and death within hours. Even touching it can make your skin red and sore.
Foxglove
Foxglove has tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers. It’s pretty, but all parts of the plant are poisonous. Eating it can cause nausea, vomiting, and serious heart problems. Doctors use chemicals from foxglove to make some heart medicines, but only in tiny, controlled amounts.
Lily of the Valley
These tiny white flowers shaped like bells have a sweet smell, but don’t be fooled. Eating any bit of the plant can give you a sore tummy, make your vision fuzzy, and slow down your heart. It’s extra risky for kids and pets who might want to munch on the bright red berries.
Datura (Jimsonweed)
This plant has huge flowers that look like trumpets and seed pods covered in spikes. Every part of it can hurt you, making you see things that aren’t real, get a high fever, or even die. Some folks try to use it to get high, but it’s super dangerous and often lands them in the hospital.
Rhododendron
These bushes have big, flashy blooms. But watch out – eating the leaves, flowers, or their sweet juice can make you really ill. You might throw up, have low blood pressure, or even pass out and not wake up. Even honey from bees that have visited these flowers can be dangerous.
Yew
This green-all-year tree or bush is common in yards. But its pointy leaves and red berries are super poisonous. Eat just a couple pieces of berries, and your heart could be in big trouble, or you might even die. The poison in it works really fast, which makes it extra scary.
Monkshood (Aconite)
This plant, also known as wolfsbane, has purple flowers that look like hoods. It’s so dangerous that just touching it can make you feel bad. If you eat it, you might go numb, throw up, or have heart trouble. People have used it as a poison for a really long time.
Angel’s Trumpet
This plant has huge, hanging flowers shaped like trumpets. They’re pretty, but don’t touch it! The whole plant is dangerous, mostly the seeds and leaves. Eat any of it and you could see weird stuff, not be able to move, or even die. Even if its sap gets on your skin, you might feel really sick.
Larkspur
This plant grows tall with spikes of blue, pink, or white blooms. It looks nice but is super dangerous, especially when it’s young. If you eat it, you could get a bad stomachache, have trouble breathing, or not be able to move. It’s also really bad news for cows and other farm animals as well.
Autumn Crocus
Don’t confuse this with the spring crocus! The autumn crocus is very poisonous. It can cause burning in the mouth, vomiting, and bleeding. The poison can even soak through your skin. All parts of the plant are dangerous, especially the bulbs.
Nightshade
There are many types of nightshade plants. Some, like tomatoes and potatoes, are safe to eat (except for their leaves and stems). Others are very toxic. The berries often look tempting but can cause severe stomach problems and even death if eaten.
Poison Hemlock
This plant looks a lot like a wild carrot or Queen Anne’s Lace. But it’s extremely poisonous. All parts of the plant contain toxins that can paralyze your muscles and stop your breathing. Even small amounts can be deadly.
Daphne
This bush has flowers that smell nice and colorful berries. But don’t let that trick you – every part of it can hurt you. If you eat the berries, your mouth and throat might feel like they’re on fire, and you could pass out and not wake up. Even if the plant’s juice touches your skin, it can make it red and itchy.
Azalea
These popular flowering shrubs are beautiful but dangerous. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the leaves. Eating azalea can cause vomiting, difficulty breathing, and irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, it can lead to coma or death.
Wisteria
The drooping bunches of violet blooms are eye-catching, but watch out for the plant’s dangerous seeds and pods. If you eat these parts, you might end up with bad tummy trouble, feel mixed up, or get the spins.
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